Believe it or not human beings are the only animals that God has given the ability to reason. In life, there are occurrences or things that are true, and there are occurrences and things that are false. In between there is what we call the gray area. The expression stretching the truth, may point to occurrences or things that are in the gray area.

Throughout time, mankind has for selfish purposes have made the distinction between the truth and non-truth imperceptible. In the famous impeachment of a president, even the definition of the word “is” was questioned. The large gray area that separated the truth and non-truth has disappeared; we cannot understand the truth when it is in front of us. This occurs in religion and especially in politics, where some factions may only vote for their party, even though their candidate is corrupt, and dishonest. The distinction between the truth and non-truth is gone.

In the Tip of the Writing Brush (Ofudesaki), God compares the mistaken mind with a bent or distorted mirror. The bent mirror does not reflect our true image, as a mind that cannot understand cannot perceive what is true. In the Tip of the Writing Brush is the following:

Though the mind of God hastens day by day,

there is no understanding in the mind of my children.

Faith in people and God are good; but it must be based on the truth that we see. Have a mind like a perfect mirror that reflects the true image. Make your decisions based on the truth that we see daily.